Warner Music Japan Chair/CEO Kei Ishizaka To Retire

February 24, 2014 at 4:35 PM (PT)

WARNER MUSIC JAPAN Chairman & CEO KEI ISHIZAKA will be retiring from his post; he will become Honorary Chairman of WARNER MUSIC JAPAN on APRIL 1st, and will continue in that role until the end of OCTOBER.

A 46-year veteran of the Japanese music industry, ISHIZAKA joined WARNER MUSIC in 2011, having previously served in senior executive positions at UNIVERSAL MUSIC and TOSHIBA-EMI. "KEI is one of the most accomplished and widely respected figures in the evolution of the modern music business in JAPAN, and his impressive contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s popular culture for more than four decades," WARNER MUSIC ASIA PACIFIC Pres. LACHIE RUTHERFORD said. "KEI expertly led WARNER MUSIC JAPAN through a key transitional period in the company’s history, and he has set it on course for a bright and prosperous future. All of us at WARNER MUSIC deeply appreciate KEI’s tremendous contributions to our company, and he will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of working with him.”

"“It has been a true honor to oversee WARNER MUSIC JAPAN for the past two-and-a-half years," ISHIZAKA noted, "It is a company with a rich history and a tireless devotion to serving its artists. I am proud of all we have accomplished in building WARNER MUSIC JAPAN’s reputation as a progressive home for outstanding artists, as well as laying the foundation for the company’s growth for many years to come. I want to thank LACHIE for being an invaluable partner and the entire WMG global team for their wonderful support.

WARNER MUSIC JAPAN is due to make further announcements about its leadership in the coming weeks.